Trial Starts For Moreno Valley School Official Accused Of Rape, Pandering, Pimping

MORENO VALLEY (CBSLA.com) — Lawyers began presenting their case Wednesday against a Moreno Valley school board member accused of rape, pimping and pandering.

Prosecutors said Mike Rios hired adult prostitutes to work for him and that he also tried to get underage girls to do the same. The DA says he ran the prostitution ring out of his Moreno Valley home.

Reporting for CBS2 and KCAL9, Greg Mills tried to talk to Rios after court went into recess for the day. Mills said, “For a man facing 35 felony charges, including rape pandering and pimping he seemed rather upbeat.”

In his opening argument, Rios’ defense attorney said Rios only hired women to work for his business, “Strip and Dance.”

A witness told the court she worked for the business. The prosecutor said, “What was the business? The witness replied: “prostitution.”

She also testified that Rios found women by putting ads on the website Backpage.com which has an adult services section.

The witness also said she helped procure women for Rios. She also testified that the prostitutes worked out of his home and that he drove women to their appointments.

Rios also faces two rape charges. The DA said the women he allegedly raped worked for him.

The judge told the jury he expected them to have the case handed to them by Tuesday of next week.